Computing-scale



3 Sheets-Shet 2.

(No Model.) 7

J. W.GULMER. COMPUTING SGALB.

' Patented Jan. 7, 1896.

Swvawboz UNITED STATES PATENT OEEicE.

JOHN V. CFLMER, OF NE'W BRIGHTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

COMPUTING-SCALE.

SYEECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 552,826, dated January7, 1896.

Application filed February 16, 1895. gerial No. 538,678. (No model.)

T0 at whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN XV. GULMER, a citizen of the United States,residing at New Brighton, in the county of Beaver and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inComputing- Scales; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to theletters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of thisspecification.

This invention relates to computii'lg-scales of the platform type; andits object is to improve the means by which the ordinary parts andmechanisms for receiving actual weight and transmitting its effect tothe weight-indicating mechanism may be united to and co-ordinated withthe beam of a computingscale.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein like letters represent the sameparts throughout, Figure 1 is a front elevation of a computingplatform-scale provided with my improvements; Fig. 2, a top plan of thesame; Fig, 8, a vertical lengthwise section of the same; Fig. 4, a planview of my lever and trolley-bar with some convenient balancing devicesadded; Fig. 5, an end view of the same; Fig. 6, a detached frontelevation of the trolley-bar, the trolley, and the linked sliding poiseby which the connection is made with the computing beam; Fig. 7, an endview of the same, showing the trolley-bar and the computing-beam insection; Fig. 8, a front interior view of the aforesaid linked slidingpoise upon the computing-beam; Fig. 9, an end view thereof, and Fig. 10a top view of the same.

A is the ordinary hollow base of the scale, having at its rear a pair ofstandards B, each with a bearing a on its inner face. The standardssupport a plate 0, which extends far to the right, and midway of thisplate rises a standard I), and this completes the frame of the scale.

E is the weighing-platform, having the customary feet I), and these bearupon the levers c and d, which, with their usual pivots, links, andsupports, constitute the ordinary system,

within the hollow of the scale-base, for pullin g down the vertical rod6, that, in a non-computing scale, would actuate the lever operating theweighing-beam. In this construction it actuates the lever now to bedescribed.

F is my trolley-supporting lever. It con.- sists of two forwardly-projecting parallel arms 7, joined at their rear ends by a base g, which maybe straight or curved, as taste, convenience, or other circumstance maysuggest. Each of the arms is provided with a fulcrumpivot 71 for thebalancing of the lever upon its support. From the lever-base projects atright angles an arm '2', the front end of which is pivoted to the top ofthe vertical rod already described as proceeding from the scalebase. Thelever being seated by its fulcrumpivots in the bearings a of thebase-standards, the pull of the vertical rod upon the arm i of the leverwill depress the front of the latter. Across this otherwise vacant frontis the trolley-carrying bar G, supported at the ends of the arm f of thelever, and this bar must be so seated in the arms as to be in trueparallel with the fulcrum-pivots, which are to be parallel with eachother. This may be done by making the seats in the arms longer than thewidth of the bar and passing a screw through bar and seat, as indicatedin Figs. at and 5; but this is mere mechanical detail for thescale-maker to decide.

Preparatoryto weighing or computing anything the lever F must be inbalance. There are various familiar ways of adjusting balance, amongthem the addition of weights, as 7a, to the light end of the lever,these working adj ustably on screw-stems projected from the lever-base.

A scoop is sometimes used on the weighingplatform. To counterbalancethis I may projeet a stem Z from the base end of the aforesaid lever andmount upon it a screw-fastening balance-weight m, which, when the scoopis on, is turned over to or toward the rear till the scoop iscounterbalanced, and when the scoop is off the platform thebalance-weight may be turned forward and assist in establishing thegeneral balance of the lever.

II. is a trolley, made wide and heavy at bottom to keep it upright. Ithas a pair of wheels 12 to support and move it upon the trolley-barcarried by thelibratin g lever, and it may have an under wheel 0,engaged with the bottom edge of the trolley-bar, to assist in holdingthe trolley to the bar when the latter is pulled down. The upper part ofthe trolley forms a standard, which in front is prolonged and projectedinto a curved finger-catch p, as shown in Figs. 3 and 7. Behind thefingercatch a shoulder r is formed, making a seat for the mechanism tobe supported by the trolley.

I is the computing-beam. It consists of two parallel bars, one above theother, with an interval between the proximate edges, and these bars areunited at their ends. By means of a pivot s, mounted .in the centerblock t, form ing part of the lower bar, the beam is properly supportedand librated 011 the standard D, which is part of the framework of thescale. Scale-makers will graduate and mark the three spaces afforded bythe upper bar and the divided lower bar of the beam, according to thework and result-s desired from a particular scale; but one of the manypractical arrangements I will. now describe.

Take the left-hand section of the lower bar. The available marking-spacebegins at the straight edge of the block t and extends to the left tillthe boundary is reached of the end space within which can be exactlycontained the poise necessary to operate this part of the beam. Themarking-space so available I divide into forty equal portions. Along thebottom each of these vertical marks represents a price-rate ofone-quarter of a cent; but along the top each mark represents one cent.This (the pri ce-graduation of the beam) is therefore capable of doingits share in any computation involving a .rate from five to sixtycents,with quarter-cent fractions. Take now the upper bar of the beam.he space along this bar I mark off near the top into equal divisions toindicate value. Read along the top of these vertical marks, each markindicates an increase of one cent and so co-operates with the upperreadings, above described, of the left lower bar. Read along the bottom,each mark indicates but one-quarter of a cent, and so corresponds withthe lower readings of the left lower bar. Along the bottom of this uppermark I mark the space off into pounds and half-ounces, so that articlesmay be weighed without computation, or the accuracy of the scale testedby an official inspector. Take now the righthand section of the lowerbar. The resting-place of the poise for this bar is against the centerblock. The rest of the space I have marked off into pounds and ounceswhen read along the bottom. of the marks. There are no top readings,because it is designed to sometimes use this part of the lower bar andthe poise belonging to it for purposes of tare, when the weight ofvessels containing articles to be weighed is to be counterbalanced.

On the upper bar of the computing-beam is a sliding poise K, theresting-place of which is at the left-hand extremity of the bar. Thispoise may be, as shown, cut away on its rear face to form pointers forthe upper row of marks along the beam, and on its front face to form apointer for the lower row of marks. Of course,the weights of the poiseare adjusted to enable the value-pointers to be at the rear of thispoise, instead of on the front face, they might be, if desired.

On the right-hand section of the lower bar of the beam is a slidingpoise L, the restingplace of which, as already stated, is at theleft-hand extremityof the section, against the center block. Thestraight front face of this poise is a su'fficient marker for readingalong the single scale of weight-marks; but for convenience that facemay be recessed, as shown, to emphasize the indicating to be done by thepoise.

lVhen prices or weights run above those provided for on the beam,movable poises, such as are usual in platform-scales, may be used on theswinging seat M, pivotally hung from a goose-neck N, projected from therighthand extremity of the beam. This goose-neck may also be used tocheck excessive libration of the beam by mounting on the framework anarm 0 with a pair of studs 0 on it, respectively above and below thegoose-neck, as shown.

Preparatory to an operation in weighing or computing, the beam I must bebalanced. There are various ways of doing this, including the one I haveshown, in which a balancing-weight P moves in and out upon a stemprojected horizontally from another balancin g-weight It, which moves upan d down upon a vertical screw-stem w, bracketed at the lefthandextremity of the compu tin g-beam. This arrangement insures a nicebalancing of the beam upon its fulcrum-pivot.

Upon the left-hand section of the lower bar of the beam is a slidingpoise S, which is normally at home anywhere along the beam-section. Itis hung in a link T by means of a bolt y in the top of the link, whichbolt is axially traversed by a pin .2, supported by and near the top ofthe poise, a recess a being formed at the top of the poise toaccommodate the bolt and the pin. This enables the poise to swing withinthe link and give nee essary flexibility to the movements of the poise.

The poise S is provided with rollers Z) journaled in the top extremitiesof the poise, and these fit on the top edge of the left-hand barsectionof the beam, without, however, bearing down upon the beam.

The link T, carrying the poise just mentioned, rests with its stem atits rounded bot-- tom upon the shoulder 7' in the upper part of thetrolley, and a shoulder-screw g is passed through the trolley and thestem to make a flexible connection between link and trolley, and holdthem together when the latter pulls upon the former in the downwardmovement of the scale. This trolley-borne poise S is hollow, and has alock U within it supported by springs e resting upon the .floor of thepoise, which normally press the lock up against the under edge of theleft-hand bar-section upon which the poise slides. This under edge maybe toothed, if desired, in correspondence with the markings, to make afirm engagement with the upwardly-pointing prongs of the lock. The lockhas a bearing (1 upon each inner face. A thumb-lever \V is pivoted atthe back and lower part of the poise, and has lugs e by which it restsupon the bearings cl of the look. It may have, also, a stop 1 underneathto come upon the top surface of the finger-catch p forming the frontupper extremity of the trolley, thus to prevent excess ive depression ofthe springs when the lever is pressed down.

For the operation of the scale the lever F is put in balance upon itspivots by its balancing-weights at the rear end, thus enabling it tosupport the trolley-bar G, the trolley H, and the poise S from its frontend at the balancinglevel. The computing-beam I is also put in balanceby the balancing-weights at its left-hand extremity, the poises K and Lbeing in their respective resting-places, as already described. Thepoise S, though upon the lower bar of the beam, does not disturb norenter into the balance, because it is supported by the trolley, and istherefore in the balance of the aforesaid lever; and because the barthat supports the trolley is properly parallel, the poise S can be movedto and fro upon the lower bar of the beam without disturbing thebeam-balance at any place of its rest. Now put weight upon the platform.The rod 2 pulls down the arm '7', and so depresses the bar G and with itthe trolley 11, which, by means of the poise S, depresses the left sideof the computing-beam and so throws the beam out of balance. The balanceis restored by moving out to the right either the poise K on the upperor the poise L on the lower bar.

Having regard to the system of graduations herein chosen forillustration, suppose the price of an article on the platform to bethirty cents per pound. Take the thumb-lever V and the finger-catchbetween the thumb and forefinger and press upon the former, thusdisengaging the lock U from the bottom edge of the computing-beam, andthen move the poise S, by means of and with the trolley, till the upperpointer of the poise is at the mark for thirty cents Then release thethumb-lever, and the lock will again bear upon the edge of the beam.Next move the poise K along the upper bar until the beam balances andthe pointer in the rear face of that poise will tell the value of thatarticle.

Suppose an article is to be only weighed. Place a standard one-poundweight upon the platform of the balanced and unoccupied scale, and setthe poise K or the poise L at the one-pound mark. Then move the poise Still the scale balances, which will be, let us say, when the lowerpointer of that poise is at the figure 8 on the lower line of readings.A mark is then made against that figure to denote the correct positionof that poise whenever, in future, there is to be simply a weighingoperation. Now remove the standard weight from the platform, put thearticle thereon, and the poise S being in its proper place for simpleweighing move out either of the other poises till the beam is in balanceand the weight is told.

Suppose a vessel is put on the platform to contain the commodity. Thetare of the Vessel may be balanced either by adjustment of thebalance-weight m on the lever or by moving out the poise L, while thepoise S is at its weight-mark, till the scale is in balance, and thenproceed as before with the weighing or computing.

Having thus described my invention, and disclaiming anything shown ordescribed in the Letters Patent of the United States Nos. 442,218 and530,930, I claim the following:

The combination, in a platform computing scale, of the hollow scalebase; the pair of standards at the rear thereof; the bearings on theinner faces of said standards; the weighing platform supported upon andwithin the hollow base, and having the feet descending the interior ofsaid base; the pair of connected and pivoted levers within said base,adapted to the support of the aforesaid platform; the vertical rodpivoted to said levers and rising from said scale base; the lever,supported by the aforesaid standards upon the scale base and providedwith the pair of fulcrum pivots adapted to engage the bearings upon saidstandards, and having alsothe central forwardly projected arm pivoted tothe aforesaid vertical rod, the adjustable balancing weights at therear, and the long straight bar at the front, parallel with theaforesaid fulcrum pivots; the broad based trolley, supported upon andmoving along the bar at the front of the aforesaid lever and having thepair of wheels resting upon said bar, and further provided with theshoulder in the upper part thereof; the link, supported at the top ofthe trolley andprovided with the screw adapted to flexibly connect saidtrolley and link; the hollow block, pivoted at the top to the upper partof said link and adapted to swing therein, and provided interiorly withthe spring supported look having an upward bearing; the plate resting onthe pair of aforementioned standards of the scale base; the standardrising from said plate; the computing beam formed into two parallel barsand supported bysaid standard, and having the center block adapted tothe division of said beam into graduations, the fulcrum pivot adapted tolibrate the beam upon its standard, the gooseneck at the right hand endand the swinging seat dependent therefrom, and the adjustable balancingweights at the other end of said beam; the sliding poises respectivelyon the upper bar of the beam, and on the right hand section of adaptsaid block to traverse said bar section between end and center block;the whole construction and arrangement as described, and for thepurposes hereinbefore set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN XV. CULMER. Witnesses J. A. TATRO, G. L. EBERHART.

